Mentorship Program

2024-2025 OUTDOOR LEARNING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Take Me Outside is launching a new Mentorship Program for educators engaged in outdoor learning – a thriving community to connect, support and grow together!

The Call for Mentors and Mentee Registration has closed for 2024-2025, but we hope you can join us next year. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@takemeoutside.ca.

This program is open to all educators who are integrating outdoor learning into their work with children or youth. We’re also looking for Mentors who are fluent in French so we can increase our capacity to offer this program bilingually. This is a pilot program and we greatly appreciate your feedback as we shape and develop this program.

Kindly note, at this time, this program is for educators on Turtle Island/North America.

OVERVIEW

Take Me Outside is creating a Community of Practice which will offer different kinds of opportunities for direct peer-to-peer support. Educators newer to outdoor learning (Mentees) will be able to connect with educators with more experience in outdoor learning (Mentors). We recognize the importance and value of relationship-building, connection and support in helping advance outdoor learning as a teaching practice.

Mentees can build direct relationships with Mentors to learn answers to specific questions they have, learn how Mentors have overcome barriers and challenges to outdoor learning and be provided with personal feedback, inspiration and guidance.

4 Different Ways to Connect to Mentors

  • Virtual Campfires
    You can join monthly virtual campfire discussions with seasonal themes and directly connect to Mentors, asking for their feedback and guidance.
  • Online Community
    You can engage with Mentors and other Mentees in a vibrant online community on Slack. There will be specific channels you can join based on ages of learners, geographic region, language, interests and other types of groups.
  • Pen Pal Program
    You can sign up to be matched with a Mentor “pen pal”, who you will be able to connect with via email. The Mentor will respond to your emails and questions on a monthly basis.
  • Regional Coordinators
    You can sign up to be connected with a Regional Coordinator Mentor, who can offer regionally specific support and gatherings.

MENTOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

We’re looking for educators experienced in outdoor learning who want to be part of our Mentor Leadership Team, who will help shape and deliver our 2024-2025 program!

We kindly ask that all Mentors commit to:
  • Volunteering as a Mentor for one full school year (October 2024-June 2025)
  • Attending 2, one hour-long virtual Mentor Leadership Team meetings with Julie, TMO Program Manager (one in November before the program launches and one in June as the program closes)  
  • Taking on one of the following Mentor roles for the year: Virtual Campfire Facilitator, Slack Moderator, Pen Pal OR Regional Coordinator (full details below)

We’re estimating that Mentors will volunteer approximately 3-5 hours a month.

VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE FACILITATORS

We’re looking for Mentors to co-lead and support hour-long monthly Virtual Campfire sessions via Zoom, facilitating engaging conversations with Mentees, in both whole group discussions and smaller breakout room groups. These sessions will take place from November-June. You don’t need to attend all 8 campfires, but we’d love it if you could commit to co-leading and supporting at least 4 campfires. Specific campfire dates will be announced very soon!

Preferred Experience:
  • At least two years’ experience leading outdoor learning
  • Previous experience facilitating online workshops is a huge asset!

ONLINE COMMUNITY MODERATORS

These Mentors will monitor channels in our Slack Community, checking the channels regularly (at least once a week), responding to posts, ensuring posts align with our Mentorship Program Code of Conduct and posting in each channel at least once a month. Each Mentor will be responsible for monitoring a minimum of 2 channels and there will be at least 2 Community Moderators per channel.                           

Preferred Experience:
  • At least two years’ experience leading outdoor learning
  • Comfort using online community platforms
  • Experience with Slack is a huge asset!

PEN PALS

Pen Pal Mentors will be paired up with 1-5 Mentees (depending on the Mentor’s capacity), who they will email at least once a month, responding to specific questions or challenges their Mentee has posed and providing guidance. 

Preferred Experience:
  • At least two years’ experience leading outdoor learning
  • Knowledge of challenges and barriers to outdoor learning
  • Proficiency in English OR French
  • Capacity to respond to Mentee emails once per month

REGIONAL COORDINATORS

We’re looking for Mentors who can facilitate 1-3 regionally-specific meetings throughout the school year and who can regularly email their group of Mentees regionally specific events and professional learning (preferably once a month). The meetings can be virtual or if it’s possible to create in-person sessions for their group of Mentees, that would be fantastic!

Preferred Experience:
  • At least two years’ experience leading outdoor learning
  • Knowledge of local organizations, programs and professional learning opportunities related to outdoor learning
  • Comfortable sending group emails and facilitating meetings (online and/or in person)

MENTOR APPLICATION PROCESS

We thank all applicants for their interest in being a Mentor! 

Kindly note, we have limited spots for Mentors in our pilot year and will select Mentors based on their experience and capacity.

We will respond to all Mentor applicants shortly after November 1st, 2024.

For Mentor applicants who are accepted as 2024-2025 Mentors,  Julie (TMO Program Manager) will follow up with more details, including a Mentor Agreement, Code of Conduct, and the meeting link for the first Mentor Leadership Team meeting in November.

MENTOR GRATITUDE

As a thank you to all of our amazing Mentors, we will be offering all Mentors: 

  • A certificate of completion for their year of Mentorship
  • Recognition and gratitude on our website (optional)
  • A journal or toque from the TMO Store

 

MENTOR APPLICATION FORM

Thank you for your interest in becoming an Outdoor Learning Mentor! The Call for Mentors has closed for 2024-2025, but we hope you can join us next year. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@takemeoutside.ca.

MENTEE REGISTRATION FORM

Mentee Registration has closed for 2024-2025, but we hope you can join us next year. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@takemeoutside.ca.